254 



FOREST PRODUCTS 



that it is impossible to discuss this subject to any length without going 

 into a great amount of detail. The following figures, however, will 

 convey some impression of the costs involved in a box factory in the 

 important box and shook manufacturing district of New England. At 

 this box shook factory cutting about 12,000,000 bd.-ft. of white pine 

 and spruce per year and employing about 120 men the following costs 

 were determined. The lumber was received at the mill in round-edge 

 or live-sawed stock. The boxes were used for canned vegetables, cereals, 

 milk, paints and shoes, and a number of specifications were required to 

 suit the individual requirements. The minimum size was a box 1 5 in. in 

 length, 12 in. in width and 10 in. in depth, and the maximum size was 

 40 in. in length, 24 in. in width and 24 in. in depth. The average costs 

 for the years 19 14 and 19 18 are given to show the rapid rise in charges 

 due to the war and its activities: 



COST OF MANUFACTURING BOX SHOOKS, NEW ENGLAND 



Item. 



Labor 



Overhead, including salaries, insurance, taxes, general repairs, 



depreciation, supplies, and various sundries 



Lumber delivered f .o.b. mill 



Total cost of production 



10 per cent profit 



Sale price 



Cost per Thousand Board-feet. 



In the above figures, the waste figured at 20 per cent in this mill has 

 been included in the cost of lumber. The waste includes loss by edging 

 and trimming, but does not include waste of saw kerf, which is always 

 included in the value of the lumber itself. 



SIZES AND SPECIFICATIONS 



As indicated above, there are so many different sizes and specifica- 

 tions used in the manufacture of boxes that it is impossible to go into this 

 subject in any great detail. 



Since one of the principal use for boxes is for canned goods the follow- 

 ing standard specifications for canned goods boxes as adopted by the 

 United States Food Administration and the Quartermaster Corps at 

 Washington are given. These include the kinds of woods used, the 



